Lyn Harpham (1919-2011)

Lynette Harpham (née Christian) was born in Tauranga in one of the town’s early homes, “Fairlight,” located between 5th and 6th Avenues. The house was later destroyed by fire. Her parents, Fred and Mary Christian, were active in church, business, and community organisations in Tauranga during the 1920s and later years.

She was educated at Tauranga District High School from Primer 1 to Form 6 (year 1 to 12 in today's terms) and was head girl in 1937. At that time the school catered for students aged five to 17 and served families from Te Puke, Mount Maunganui, and Ōmokoroa. She later attended the University of Otago to study Home Science but ended her studies due to sight problems.

During the Second World War she served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment at Tauranga Hospital. She also worked for Dr Hutcheson for nine years and spent most of her working life employed in hospitals and doctors’ surgeries as a receptionist.

She married Henry Harpham. Although they had both grown up in the same street in Tauranga, they were married in London. After her husband’s death she returned to work at Tauranga Hospital in relieving roles and cared for her elderly mother at home.

Harpham wrote the Centennial History of Tauranga District High School in 1975 and the History of the Methodist Church in 1981. She also contributed to the Centennial History of Tauranga 1882–1982 and wrote on early Guides and Tauranga District High School for centennial publications. She prepared histories of the Methodist Church and Tauranga District High School.

She was a member of the Tauranga Branch of the New Zealand Genealogical Society, the Tauranga Historical Society, and the Bay of Plenty District Committee of the Historic Places Trust. She served as Convenor of the Tauranga Sub-Committee of the Historic Places Trust. She was also a foundation member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, a member of the National Council of Women, and a member of the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association (Auckland branch).

She was involved with Wesley Church as a Sunday School teacher and church official, and was a life member of the Tauranga District High School Old Pupils’ Association. She gave talks to local groups on Tauranga history, led bus tours around the district, and wrote articles for genealogical magazines in New Zealand and overseas. She was regarded as a source of information on early Tauranga history.